Described as a revenge attack by "the Newport boys on the Cardiff boys", Newport Crown Court Court heard how the four men conspired to murder John Phillips and Michael Wall.

The court was told how the four men, one of whom was wearing a balaclava, were in Somerton Road in Newport on September 3 last year in a Jeep Grand Cherokee when they "deliberately chased and rammed" a small Ford Ka.

Mrs Justice Cox DBE said two shots were fired during the pursuit from a double barrelled shotgun. During the trial a firearms expert told the jury how the shots struck the rear hatch door and light cluster of the Ka while the other shot was fired through the rear window. The car crashed into the Cross Hands pub and the men fled the scene.

The judge said it was "purely fortuitous" that none of the occupants of the Ka were killed or seriously injured. The driver, Shanice Francis, was physically unharmed while Mr Phillips and Mr Wall suffered minor injuries after being struck by shotgun pellets on the back of the head and shoulder.

Rabjohns, Bridge, Hooper and Battersby were acquitted of conspiracy to kill or seriously injure Ms Francis but were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to kill Mr Phillips and Mr Wall.

The judge said the four offenders made careful attempts to dispose of the evidence and cover their tracks. This included mobile phones and the disposal of the Jeep and gun which have never been found.

Mrs Justice Cox said: "It is clear on the evidence that what happened that night was a revenge attack - the Newport boys on the Cardiff boys as it has been described - and that it was carefully planned."

The court heard how the motive for the attack was a robbery carried out on Hooper's home 48 hours previously by Mr Phillips and Mr Wall.

The judge said she accepted this was an "unpleasant and frightening" incident and that Hooper was assaulted, held in a headlock, robbed and threatened by Mr Wall who was "waving a silver handgun" at him.

The court was told how police intelligence revealed that Mr Wall and Mr Phillips had links with drugs and drug crime. They did not co-operate with the police investigation or give evidence at the trial.

Mrs Justice Cox said that despite this she was satisfied on all the evidence that the robbery began the chain of events leading to the shooting on Somerton Road.

Newport Crown Court was told how Rabjohns and Battersby were both involved in the purchase, collection and delivery of the Jeep to Newport and that BBM messages between Rabjohns and Mr Phillips showed the "escalating hostility" over what had happened to Hooper.

Mrs Justice Cox referred to the gun challenge made by Mr Phillips for him to "get your straps ready" which she said is exactly what Rabjohns did.

The court was told it was unclear when, where and by whom the shotgun was obtained and that there is no reliable evidence about who was driving the Jeep at the time and who fired the shots.

Mrs Justice Cox said: "The BBM messages show that the victims were coming to Newport to look for you and the messages sent by John Phillips were aggressive and confrontational."

She said this did not excuse the "premeditated attack" but said the background is relevant.

Rabjohns, of no fixed abode; Hooper, of Feering Street, Newport; Bridge, of Nash Drive, Newport; and Battersby, of Forest Close, Newport, were all convicted of two charges of conspiracy to murder.

Rabjohns was also found guilty of intending to pervert the course of justice. The court was told that whilst in custody he wrote a letter telling Bridge and Hooper not to tell the truth and threatening their safety and those of their families if they did.

They were each sentenced to 12 years in prison minus the days they have already spent on remand and must each pay a £120 victim surcharge.

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